Hydraulic crane.



Patented May I3, I902.

E 0. WILEY. HYDRAULIC CRANE. (Application filed Mar. 1, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

In: Nunms PETERS 00.. vno'rouwajwlsnmsrom n. c.

Patented May I3, I902.

E. C.-W|LEY.

HYDRAULIC GRAN-E.

(Application filed mar. 1, 1900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS vzTcas on P 1 Patented May l3, I902.

EJC. WILEY.

HYDRAULIC CRANE.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1900.)

(N9 Model.)

4 Sheets-Shoot 3.

ma mums PENRS 0a,. Pr in'ruwmo" WASHINGTON, n. C.

Patented May l3, I902.

E. ,C. WILEY. HYDRAULIC CRANE.

(Application filed Mgr. 1, 1900.)

(no Model.)

4 Sheets8heet 4,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ion.

EDGAR O. WILEY, OF RADFORI), VIRGINIA ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO HENRY E. MCWANE, OF LYNOHBURG, VIRGINIA, AND GEORGE L. CARTER, OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE.

HYDRAULIC CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N6. 700,162, ated May 13, 1902. Application filed March 1,1900. Serial No. 6.925. ma as.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it knownithat', I, EDGAR O. W1LEY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Radford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia, have invented a new and'useful Hydraulic Crane, of which the following is a specification,

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic cranes ofthe class known as jibcranes, wherein the jib is mounted to turn on avertical axis and'itsiarm forms a track for a horizontally-traveling trolley or carriage.

One of theserious defects encountered in the operation of ordinary hydraulic cranes resides in the inability to control the swing of the crane when moving in a horizontal plane and under the momentum of the load and the heavy crane itself. In the practical operation of the crane it is usual to swing the same rapidly by turning it on a vertical axis, and in the'event that the supply and exhaust of motivefiuid are out off suddenly in order to stop the" crane it is found that the momentum of'the load and the crane operates to break some of the operating parts of the structure, even though the crane be supplied with buffers or cushion devices. One object of the present invention is to overcome such defects and to provide a mo: tor mechanism for turning the crane on its vertical axis which shall be of a compara' tively simple nature, easily controlled, and efficient in turning the crane as well as relieving the operaiin g parts from undue strain and from breaking on the arrestation in the supply and exhaust of the motive fluid.

A further object is to provide an improved trolley-operating mechanism including a single double-acting cylinder-motor with operative connections to the trolley and having the valve mechanism, which is easily operated to control the action of the motor, for the purpose of running the trolley back and forth on the jib.

A further object is the provision of a loadlifting mechanism in which the motor-plunger is kept in a clean condition, free from-accumulations of dirt, as well as thoroughly inbricated.

A further object is to so combine and arrange the-various valve mechanisms for the motors which lift the load, swing the crane, and control the trolley that they may be 0perated singly or collectively by the attendant stationed on a platform which swings with the jib. p y

: A further object is to provide a common relief to all the valve mechanisms which overcomesanytendency of water-hammering in the motivefluid when either of said valve mechanisms is shut off.

A' further objectis to compactly arrange and simplify the construction in general, so as tosecure an automatic packing of the joint in the mo'tive fiuid induction pipe, the distribution of the motive fluid from a single source, and the return ofthe exhausted fluid from all the "motor mechanisms back to a common point.

Further objectsand advantages of this invention'will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

' The invention consists in the novel combinations of mechanisms and in the constructions and' arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims. a

' In the accompanying drawings I have represented aihydraulic crane which'embodies the several features of my invention in their preferred form, and to these drawings I shall now refer in order to explain more clearly the nature ofthe invention and the manner in which the sameis or maybe carried into efiect.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of ahydraulic crane embodying the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking in a direction at right angles to Fig. 1 and as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asectional elevation on an enlarged scale and with certain parts omitted, the plane of the section being indicated generally by the dottedline 4 4 on Fig. 1 looking in the direction 'of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevationin the plane of the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is an en- 7 is an enlarged sectional view through one type of the main valve mechanism which controls the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the motor of the load-lifting mechanism, permits the motive fluid to be distributed from a single source of supply to the valves which control the operation of the motors for the crane-swinging mechanism and the trolley-operating mechanism, and which also permits relief of the motive fluid at a point common to all of the valve mechanisms, so as to obviate water-hammering of the motive fluid. Fig. Sis an enlarged detail section of one type of four-way valve for the motors of either the crane-swinging mechanism or the trolley-operating mechanism. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional View through the double-acting relief-valve designed to be operatively associated with the single double-acting cylinder of the motor for the crane-swinging mechanism.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

10 designates the pit, built up of brickwork in the ordinary way and having a sewer connection 11 for draining the pit of the exhausted motive fluid which is returned after having been utilized for the operation of either or all of the motive mechanisms which are associated with the means for lifting the load, swinging the crane on its vertical axis, and operating the trolley. On the top of this pit is firmly secured the foundation or bed plate 12, which is preferably of cast metal, having an annular grooved edge 13. Said bed-plate is furthermore provided with a central stepbearing 14, the bottom of which is partly closed by a bracket 15, that is firmly bolted to the under side of the bed-plate, all as clearlyshown by Fig. 5.

The jib employed in my hydraulic crane is mounted to turn in a horizontal plane on a verticalaxis, and this jib may be of the builtup construction familiar to those skilled in the art. Generally speaking, the jib consists of a post or column 15, usually termed the mast, a horizontal arm 17, which is the jib proper, and the strut 18, each of which parts is shown as consisting of parallel members united and braced laterally together. For example, I have shown the column or post as consisting of parallel beams I-shaped'in cross-section and united to a foot-block 19 and a head-block 20. The foot-block is provided with a bottom gudgeon 21, which is fitted in the step-bearing 14 of the bed-plate, while the head-block is provided with the top gudgeon 22, adapted to be received in a suitable bearing which is fixed above the crane. The gudgeons 21 22 serve to mount the jib so that it will turn or swing in a horizontal plane, and the arm of this crane furnishes the support or track for the horizontally-movable trolley 23, the latter having the wheeled axles 24, the wheels of which are adapted to the rails 25, which are suitably secured to the members comprising the horizontal arm of the jib. (See Fig. 2.)

The load-lifting mechanism whichI employ in the construction of my hydraulic crane is similar in its general aspect to corresponding mechanisms used in some types of cranes which have preceded myinvention. The'motor for this load-lifting mechanism contemplates the employment of a vertically-disposed cylinder 26, which is firmly united to one side of the post forming a part of the swingingjib by means of the saddles 27. The bottom head 28 of this motor-cylinder constitutes the inlet-chamber for the supply of the motive fluid to the plunger-chamber, and this head is furnished with a hanger 29, adapted to support the arbor of a single sheave 30, that is disposed below and in the vertical plane of the cylinder 26. The top head 31 of the cylinder 26 is flanged and fitted against the corresponding flange of the cylinder, so as to be clamped thereto by means of the bolts, as shown by Fig. 5, and this upper head also serves as the means for clamping a cupshaped packing 32 to the upper part of the cylinder. A portion of this packing 32 extends into the plunger-chamber of the cylinder, and it surrounds the cylinder-plunger, whereby the packing is arranged to be exposed to the motive fluid which is admitted to the cylinder 20'. The plunger 35, which is in the form of a hollow cylinder, is of slightly less diameter than the interior diameter of the cylinder for the purpose of providing a narrow annular space between the cylinder and the plunger, through which space some of the motive fluid may pass, and thereby gain access to the cup-shaped packing for the purpose of compressing the same tightly around the plunger and wholly overcome leakage of the motive fluid through the opening in the head 31, provided for the play of the plunger. This upper head 31 is fashioned or constructed to provide a wiper-cup 33, which surrounds a part of the plunger and which cup is adapt ed to receive a packing of waste or any other material 34, the latter adapted to be saturated by a suitable lubricant. It is well known to those skilled in the art that hydraulic cranes used in foundries and workshops are liable to have the plunger of the load-lifting motor obstructed in its free travel within the cylinder by accumulations of dirt. It is of course desirable to keep the plunger in a clean condition and to thoroughly lubricate the same in order to minimize the friction between the cylinder and the plunger. My improvements overcome the objection first enumerated and attain the objects last recited, because the packing wipes the accumulations of dust and dirt from the surface of the plunger, and as said packing is saturated with a lubricant the latter is freely supplied to the plunger. It is to be observed that the wiper-cup 33 is open at the upper end for an attendant to gain access to the packing, thereby facilitating the renewal thereof.

cup which contains the saturated wiper-pad, Y

and said protruding end of the plunger is furnished with a cross-head 35 and the fork 36, said cross-head being slidably fitted to the guide-rods 35, which are fixed on the jib, so that the plunger when lifted so as to project for its major portion above the cylinder will be properly held by the cross-head engaging the guides. A pair of sheaves 37 are loosely mounted on an arbor which is supported by the fork 36 at the upper protruding extremity of the plunger for a purposewhich-will presently appear. As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, an idler-sheave 38 is mounted on the post or column of the jib, and a smaller idler-sheave 39 is journaled on the arm of the jib near the post or column thereof. The carriage of the trolley 23 is'furnished with a pairof idler-sheaves 40, which are arranged below the wheeled axles of the trolley-carriage. Atackle-block 41 is furnishedwith a sheave 42 and with a grappling-hook 43, and with the described series of sheaves is associated the load-lifting cable or chain 44. One end of this cable or chain has fixed conneclion with the outer end of the arm forming a part of the jib-.as, for instance, by the eyebolt 45, from which the cable extends over one pulley 4.0, beneath the sheave 42 of the tackle-block, over the other sheave 40, thence over the idler 39, thence-below the idler 38, thence over one of the pair of sheaves 37 on the fork at the upper end of the plunger, thence in a downward direction alongside and in front of the cylinder 26 to and beneath the sheave 30, thence in an upward direction between the column and in rear of' the cylinder to and over the other member of the pair of sheaves 37 and finally the end of the cable or chain is fastened, as at 46, to the cylinder or it may be to a part of the jib. The described reeving of the load-lifting cable or chain provides for the elevation of the tackle-block and the load thereof on the upward movement of the plunger under the influence of the motive fluid which is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 26, and this is due to the fact that the cable or chain is drawn upon by the sheaves 37, receding or moving away from the sheave 30 during such upward travel of the plunger. When the motive fluid is exhausted from the cylinder 26, the plunger is free to descend by gravity, so as to lengthen the cable or chain, and thereby permit the heavy tackle-block to also lower itself. by gravity.

The motive fluid is supplied to the motors of the several mechanismsby a single induction-pipe 47, which is led from an overhead position downwardly through the post or column of the jib, so as to terminate at'a point close to a platform 131. The lower extremity of this induction-pipe is provided with an annular flange 48, which is adapted to be fitted loosely in the chamber or space of an inletneck 50 of the casing 49, forming a part of the main valve which controls the admission of the motive fluid to the motor of the load-lifting mechanism and also serves to distribute the motive fluid to the valve mechanisms for the motors of the crane-swinging mechanism and the trolley-operating mechanism. This main valve is shown more clearly by Fig. 7,

although it is indicated in Figs. 1,4, and

The inlet-neck 50 of the casing receives the gland 51, which is secured to the casing by the bolts 52, and between this gland and the flange of the induction-pipe 47 is interposed a packing 53. .In the operation of the crane the casing 49 and the valve seated therein are adapted to turn in a horizontal plane with the swinging movement of the jib, and by loosely fitting the flanged end of the induction-pipe in the stuffing-box of the casing the latter is adapted to turn freely on the stationary pipe 47. At the same time the induction-pipe is free to have a limited sliding movement on the valve-casing under the pressure of the motive fluid, so that there is a limited slidable movement as well as a free rotating movement of the valve-casing and the inductionpipe relative to each other, whereby the packing 53 is compressed so tightly by the pressure of the motive fluid alone as to wholly overcome any liability of leakage at the joint between the pipe and the valve-casing. This valve-casing is also provided'with a.transverse supply-passage 54,. with which column-1 nicates a pipe elbow or branch 55, that also communicates with the lower head 28 of the cylinder 26, (see Fig. 5,) whereby the motive fluid may be supplied to the lower end of said cylinder when the valve 57 is opened. The

casing 49 is furthermore provided with an.

exhaust-passage 56, into which is screwed the upper end of a vertical eduction-pipe 60, the latter depending from the valve-casing 49, so as to extend through the foot-block and lower gudgeon on the jib and through an opening in the bracket-plate 15, so as to discharge the exhausted motive fluid into the pit 11. (See Figs. 5 and 7.) The valve 57 is seated in the casing 49, so as to control the flow of motive fluid through the passages 54 56, and in the type of valve shown by Fig. 7 it is provided with ports 58 58, which are adapted to register with the two branches of the passage 54 for the admission of the motive fluid to the cylinder 26, or the valve may be reversed for the port 58 to register with one branch of the passage 54 and its other port 58 to communicate with the exhaust-passage 56, so as to conduct the motive fluid from the cylinder 26 into the pipe 60 and thence to the pit. It will therefore be seen that the main valve is av three-way valve, and as a means for operating this valve I have shown it as provided ing with the rack. I desire to explain, how-' ever, that the three-way valve just described is disclosed herein to show an operative means for controlling the supply and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder 26; but I do not desire to be limited to this type of valve, because valves of other three-way constructions maybe substituted therefor.

The main valve-casing 4:9 is also provided with a chamber 61, which communicates by a branch passage 62 with the inlet-passage of the casing through which the motive fluid issupplied from the induction-pipe 47,whereby the chamber 61 is not controlled in any way by the valve 57, but is capable of receiving a full andfree supply of the motive fluid from the induction-pipe. This chamber 61 serves as a distributor to the valve mechanisms of the crane-turning motor and the trolley-operating lever. I

It is well known to those skilled in the art that a valve or valves employed to control the flow of a column of motive fluid under pressure are liable when suddenly closed to cutoff the flow of the fluid to cause waterhammering, therebyinjuriously straining the parts; but in the main valve of my crane I have provided an automatic relief which is set or adjusted to be closed against-the normal pressure of the motive fluid, but which is capable of a self-action under an abnormal pressure in the liquid column. This automatic relief is arranged not only to afiord a relief to the valve 57, but to the valve mechanisms of the crane-swinging motor and the trolley-operating motor, and thus this relief is common to all the motors of the crane.

In the bottom of the distributing-chamber 61 is provided a relief-port 63, and from this relief-port extends a passage 64, which communicates with the exhaust-passage 66. The port 63 is closed normally by a relief-valve 65, which is held to its seat by a powerful coiled spring 66, controlled by suitable regulatingscrews, so that the tension of the spring will normally counteract the pressure of the motive fluid upon the relief-valve. In the event of abnormal pressure in the column of motive fiuid-such, for example, as the sudden closing of one of the series of valvesthe reliefvalve 65 is forced from its seat by such abnormal pressure of the motive fluid, and com munication is thus opened from the distributing-chamber 61 to the passage 64 for the motive fluid to flow past the relief-valve and into the exhaust-passage (56, from which the exhausted fluid is discharged by the pipe 60 into the pit. A pipe 67 is attached to the main valve-casing for communication with the distributing-chamber 61, said pipe leading to a four-way valve which controls the supply and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the crane-swinging motor.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism which I have devised for swinging the crane-jib on its vertical axis, and in passing attention is especially invited to the fact that I employ a motor which is mounted or carried by the column or post of the crane-jib i four way valve casing,

and which embraces a single double-acting cylinder. This cylinder 68 is arranged in a vertical position and is secured firmly on the jib column or post by means of brackets 69, which are shown as bolted in place by Figs.

. 3 and 4. The four-way valve for this'craneswinging motor is connected .with the main distributing and controlling valve-casing 4!) by the pipe 67, said four-way valve being indicated by the numeral 70. Two of the branches of this four-way valve-casing are coupledto thepipes 71 72, one of which is coupled to the'lower end of the motor-cylinder 68, while the other is in like manner coupled to the upper end of said motor-cylinder. (See Fig. 4.) The pipe 67 from the main valve is united to a third branch of the and to the fourth branch of this casing is coupled a return-pipe 73, the latter being also united to the main valve-casing lil to communicate with the exhaust-passage 56 therein. The four-way valve for the crane-swinging motor is shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings, and this type of valve is also used for the trolley-operating motor. As shown by the drawings Fig. 8, the Valve proper, 74, is adjusted for the motive fluid to pass from the connecting-pipe 07 to the pipe 2, which admits the motive fluid to the up per end of the cylinder 68 for the purpose of driving the piston therein in a downward dircction, the fluid below the piston making its escape through the pipe 71, back to the valvecasing, and. thence through the pipe 73 to the exhaust-passage 56 of the main valve-casing. The valve 74 may be reversed by operating its handle 74' so as to change the course of the motive fluid through the valve-casingthat is to say, by shifting the valvein the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 the motive fluid from the pipe 67 may be supplied by the pipe 71 to the lower end of the motor-cylinder for driving the piston thereof in an upward direction and at the same time the exhaust motive fluid above the piston finds its exit through the pipe 72 back to the valve-casing 70, and through the pipe 73 is returned to the exhaust-passage 56 of the main valve-casing. The motor-cylinder 68 contains asingle donble-acting piston-head 75, having a suitable packing and provided with an elongated piston-rod 76, which extends in opposite directions from the piston-head through the stuffingboxes on the opposite cylinder -heads. The lower end of this piston-rod is furnished with a forked head 77, and the upper end of said rod is provided with a similar forked head 78. In this upper forked head 78 is mounted the arbor or shaft of a pair of guidesheaves 79, and in ahracket 80, which is fast with the jib-post at a point above the upward limit of travel of the piston-rod, isjournaled the shaft of the double idler-sheave 80. In

the lower fork 77 of the piston-rod is mounted the shaft of a double sheave 81, and in a bracket 83, which is made fast to the jib-post below the lower limit of travel of the pistonrod, is mounted the shaft or arbor of a triple sheave 82. A pair of inclined idler-sheaves 84 85 are mounted on suitable arbors or shafts which are supported by a bracket 85, ex-

tended from the frame mast'or post and movable therewith, said sheaves'being arranged,

below the triple sheave 82 and inclined reversely to each other, all as clearly shown by Fig. 1. I employ two haulage-cables which are associated with the sheaves of the pistonrod for the crane-swinging motor, said haulageecablesarranged to work revcrselyon the upward and downward travel of the pistonrod and to swing the crane-jib in opposite directions alternately, one cable arrangedto payout when the other cable isdrawn on for the operation of the crane-jib. One of these cables is indicated at 86 as having its upperend fastened ata fixed point, as at 87, on the jib-post, from whence the'cable extends in a downward direction beneath one member of the pair of sheaves 79 on the upper end of the piston rod, thence, upwardly over one .member of the idler-sheave 80, thence in a downward direction beneath the other'mem-i ber of the sheave 79, thence again in an n pward direction over the'other member of the idler-sheave 80, thence again in adownward direction in rear of one member of the triple sheave 82, thence around the inclined idlersheave S5, thence extended into the groove 13 of the bechplate, around which it is partly carried, as shown by Fig. 2, and finally the other end of this cable is fastened securely to the bed-plate, as at 88. The other haulage-cable 89 is fastened at to the foot-block, thence carried in an upward direction around one member of the sheave 81 on the lower end of the piston-rod, thence beneath one member of the triple sheave S2, thence over the other member of the double sheave 81, thence around the final member of the triple sheave S2, thence around the other inclined sheave 84:, thence carried in the groove 13 of the bedplate in the opposite direction to the cable 86, and finally this haulage-cable 89 has its other end fastened to the bed-plate at 91 and at a point contiguous to the attachment 88 of the cable 86. It will be understood that each cable of the crane-swinging mechanism has one end fasten ed to the jib-post, its other end fastoned to the bed-plate, and that it is reeved around a set of pulleys, certain of the pulleys of the set being mounted on the jib-post and other pulleys of the set being actuated by the piston-rod of the crane-swinging motor. At the same time the two cables 86 89 are arranged to work reversely on the vertical travel of the piston-rod, so that one cable will pay out when the other cable is drawn upon for the operation of the crane-jib. On the upward movement of the piston-rod of the craneswinging motor the sheaves '79 at the upper end of said rod are caused to approach the sheaves 80, while the sheaves 81 on the lower the triple sheave 82. This hasthe effect of paying out the cable 86 and of drawing on the cable 89, so that the latter will pull on the crane-jib for the purpose of swinging the same in one direction; but when the direction of travel of the crane-swinging motorpiston is reversed the cable 89 will be paid outand thecable 86 will be hauled upon so as to swing the crane-jib in an opposite direction. It will'therefore be seen that a swingingcylindermotor controlled by a single fourway valve and mounted directly on the cranejib operates efficiently for the purpose of turning said crane-jib on its vertical axis. The two haulage-cables 86 89 are fastened to the bed-plate at points contiguous to each other, whereby the haulage-cables may be operated to swing the crane nearly in a complete circle, but by overlapping the ends of the cables whichare fastened to thebed-plate the crane may be swung in a complete circle. This, however, is optional. Ineither arrangement, however, it will be understood that the pair of adjacent reversely-inclined idler-sheaves Si 85 are held by their supporting-bracket 85 in close relation'to the grooved periphery of the stationary bed-plate or base 12, so that said pulleys serve to hold the haulage-cables S6 and 89 in circumferential relation to the bed-plate or base in all positions of the crane. As the crane-mast turns the'idlers 84 and85, which move therewith, maintain a uniform relation to the bed-plate or base and practically roll upon the cables 86 and 89, associated therewith, and therefore act in the capacity of fulcrum-points for said cables, so that a pull on either of the cables will insure a prompt turning of the crane in one direction.

One of the important features of my invention is the provision of a valve-controlled bypass for the double-acting cylinder of the crane-swinging motor for the purpose of checking the swinging movement of the cranejib and its load under the momentum acquired thereby when the jib is swungin a horizontal plane, whereby the liability of injury to the working parts and snappage of the haulage-cables 86 89 is obviated when the four-wayvalve '70 is suddenly closed to'cut off the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the'motive cylinder. This by-pass is indicated at' 92 in the form of a pipe which has its opposite ends coupled to the cylinder 68 at the opposite limits-of the travel of the motor-piston 75. In this bypass is interposed a double-acting reliefvalve 93, the casing 94 of which has the ends of the two members of the by-pass coupled thereto, as at 95. This casing of the reliefvalve is divided interiorly by aparti'tion 96, as shown by Fig. 9, so as to form the longitudinal chambers 97 98, one of which is in communication with one end of the motor cylinder, while the other chamber communicates with the other end of the motor-cylinder. In the division or partition 96 is-provided the ports 99 100, and oppositely-facing relief-valves 101 102 normally close these ports 99 100, respectively. Each valve-head is equipped with a stem 103, suitably guided in the casing 9t, and against this stem acts a pressure-spring 10t, the tension of which is regulated by a suitable adjusting-screw 105. The tension of each spring is set to hold the valve to its seat against the normal pressure of the motive fluid so that in the operation of the motor-cylinder, under normal conditions of pressure the relief-valve remains inactive and has no influence whatever on the action of the crane-swinging mechanism but when the crane-jib'and its load are in motion and the four-way valve is suddenly closed to cut off the supplyof motive fluid to one end of the cylinder68 and arrest theexit of the motive fluid from the other end of said cylinder 68 in order to stop the swing of the crane-jib this sudden arrestatio'n of the motion of the crane-jib and its load would have a tendency, owing to the moment-um of the load and the jib, to injuriously strain or break the parts of the crane-swinging mechanism and to snap the haulage-cables 86 were it not for the provision of the by-pass and the relief-valve. It is to be observed that when the motor-piston 75 is moving in a downward direction and the flow of the motive fluid is suddenly stopped, owing to the closing of the valve, the fluid in the lower part of the cylinder 68 is free to pass through the lower part of the pipe 92 into the chamber 97 to act against the valve 102 and pass through the chamber 98 and thence to the upper part of the cylinder 68, owing to an abnormal pressure of the motive fluid which is exerted on the piston by the draft of one of the haulage-cables due to the momentum of the load and the crane. The relief-valve and by-pass act in a similar manner on the upward travel of the piston 75, and under similar conditions in the operation of the crane. Assuming that the piston is moving in an upward direction and the four-way valve '70 is suddenly closed to arrest the flow of the motive fluid, the momentum of the crane and its load causes one of the haulage-cables to pull on the piston, and thereby make the latter exert an abnormal pressure on the motive fluid confined in the upper part of the motor-cylinder 68. Such abnormal pressure exerted on the relief-valve 101 displaces it from the seat in the port 99, and the motive fluid from the upper part of the motor-cylinder is free to pass through the chamber 98 and port 99 into the chamber 97 and thence to the lower part of the motorcylinder. It will be seen that the by-pass and automatic relief-valve operate under abnormal conditions in the pressure of the motive fluid due to the swinging of the cranejib and the load to permit the motive fluid to 7 pass from one end of the motor-cylinder to the other end thereof, and by making the relief-valve double-acting this action of relievingthe motor-cylinder will take place when the crane-jib is swung either to the right or the left.

I will nowproceed to describe the means for operating the trolley 23 for the purpose of moving the same back and forth on the arm of the jib, so as to shift the position of the tackleblock and the cable or chain which sustains the load. This trolley-operating means includes a motor having a single double-acting eylinder106,whichis mountedinaverticalposition by suitable brackets 106 on the column or post of the jib, said cylinder 106 being disposed out of the way of the cylinders 26 and 69 and the valve mechanisms therefor. With the cylinder 106 is associated a four-way valve 107 (see Fig. 4) for controlling the admission of the motive fluid to and the exhaust thereof from said cylinder in a manner similar to the operation of the valve 70 with relation to the single-cylinder motor of the crane-swinging mechanism. This valve 107 is supplied with a suitable handle 107 for its convenient operation by hand, and said valve is a fourway valve of the type shown by Fig. 8'. The

controlling-valve for the trolley-operating motor is supplied with motive fluid through a branch 108, which at one end is coupled to the shell of the valve 107 and at its other end is coupled at 109 to a part of the pipe 67,wl1ich supplies the motive fluid to the valve 70, whereby the pipe 67 supplies the valve 70 and also supplies the valve 107 through the branch pipe 108, the two valves thus receiving a full supply of motive fluid from-the distributing-chamber 61 of the main valveshell and the operation of the valve 107 being entirely independent of the valve 70 Or of the valve 57in the main valve-casing. The four-way valve 107 is coupled to the lower end of the cylinder 106 by a pipe 111 and to the upper end of the cylinder by the pipe 110, and this valve 107 is furthermore provided with a return-pipe 112, which is coupled to the return-pipe 73 of the valve 70, so as to communicate with the exhaust-passage 56, or the pipe 112 may be coupled directly to the main valve-casing 10 for communication with said exhaust-passage, as desired. The single cylinder receives a piston 113, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and from this piston extends a rod 114, which passes through suitable stuffing-boxes on the opposite heads of the cylinder 106. It will now be seen that the motor for the trol- Icy-operating mechanism and the four-way valve associated therewith is similar to the motor and valve of the crane-swinging mechanism, except that the motor of the trolleyoperatingmechanism isnot equipped with the valved by-pass which is employed for the crane-swinging motor. The valve 107 may be shifted for the motive fluid to pass from the pipe 108 through the pipe to the upper end of the cylinder 106 for the purpose of driving the piston in a downward direction, and at the same time this position of the valve establishes a passage through the pipe 111 and the pipe 112 for the motive fluid to pass from beneath the piston to the exhaustpassage of the main valve-casing 49. To reverse the travel of the piston, the valve is shifted for the motive fluid to pass from the pipe 108 through the pipe 111 into the lower part of the cylinder, thus acting to drive the piston in an upward direction, and under this adjustment of the valve the motive fluid in.the upper part of the cylinder is exhausted bythe pipe 110 and the pipe 112 to the exhaust-passage of the main valve-casing. The upper protruding end of'the piston-rod 113 is provided with a fork 115, in which is journaled a pair of guide-sheaves 117, and in a similar way the lower end of the piston-rod has a fork 116, which carries apair of sheaves 126. A triple sheave 118 is mounted in a bracket 119, which is secured to the post or column of the jib in a position above the cylinder 106 for said triple sheave to lie in vertical alinement therewith. A single idler 120 is mounted in abracket at the outerextremity of the jib-arm, and a pair of idler-sheaves 121122 is jonrnaled on the jib-arm at a point intermediate of its length. With the trolleyoperating motor is associated a pair of cables, one of which, 123, is :fastened at one end to the front side of the trolley-carriage, as at 124. This cable passes around the sheave 120, thence along the jib-arm to and over the sheave 121, thence over one member of the triple pulley 118, thence beneath one member of the double sheave 117 on the upper end of the piston-rod, thence up to and around another member of the triple sheave 118, thence downward beneath the other member of the double sheave 117, and finally its other end is fastened at 125 to the jib-post. (See Fig. 3.) Below the double sheave 12b, carried by the lower end of the piston-rod, is a double sheave 127, which is carried by an arbor or bracket that is attached to the jib-post at a point below the lowermost limit of the travel of the piston-rod, and the other trolley-cable 128 is reeved around these double pulleys 126 127. One end of this trolley-cable 128 is made fast to the platform 131, which is carried by the j ib-post, or said endof the cable maybe made fast to the jib-post itself. The other end of the cable is extended in an upward direction over the final member of the triple sheave 118, thence carried over the idler-sheave 122, and its end is fastened to the rear side of the trolley-carriage, as at 130. It will thus be seen that one of the cables is fastened to the front side of the trolley-carriage and the other cable is fastened to the rear side of the trolley-carriage, while each cable has its other end made secure to a fixed point of attachment on the jib. WVhen the motor-piston 114 is driven in an upward direction, the cable 123 is slackened and the cable 128 is drawn taut for the purpose of hauling the trolley and the load suspended therefrom toward the post of the jib; but the reverse movement of the piston operates to slacken the cable 128 and to strain the cable 123 for the purpose of-moving the carriage and the load in the opposite direction. It will thus be seen that the two cables are opera-ted 'reversely to-each other by a single double-acting:cylinder motor, and this motor is controlled by a single valve mechanism supplied with motive fluid independently of either of the valves and 57, although from a common source of supply, which in this case isthe induction-pipe 47.

The hydraulic crane of my invention has the three motors mounted on and carried by the jib itself, thus compactlydisposing all the operating parts for the jib and its trolley. Each of the motors is of the single-cylinder type, although the motors for the craneswinging mechanism and for the trolley-operating mechanism are double-acting, and all of these motors are supplied with motive fluid from a single source of supply, and in like manner the exhausted motive fluid from each of the series of motors is discharged at a common point into the pit. The means for operating the several valves are all disposed within convenient reach of an attendant stationed on a platform, the latter being carried by the jib itself, so that' it is not necessary for the attendant to move 0E the platform to control either of the motors. The relief-valve in the main-valve casing overcomes any tendency of the motive fluid to water-hammer in the event of sudden closing of either of the series of valves, and this relief-valve is thus common to the several valve mechanisms which are associated with the independentlyoperable motors. At the same time the motor for the crane -swinging mechanism is equipped with a by-pass having a double-acting relief which is operable automatically to compensate for the swinging movement of the crane and its load, due to the momentum thereof subsequent to the stoppage in the movement of the column of motive fluid which is supplied to or exhausted from the motor of said crane-swinging mechanism.

Although I' have shown and described a specific type of four-way valve for the craneswinging motor and the trolley-operating motor, I would have it understood that my invention is not restricted to this special type of valve,.beca use I am aware that other kinds of four-way valves may be substituted for the special type of valve shown by Fig. 8.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right'to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is-- 1 I 1. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with a jib having a trolley, of aseries of motors carried by the crane-mast, said motors comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, common means for distributing the motive-agent supply to all of the motors, and individual controlling means for each motor.

2. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with a jib havinga trolley, of a common distributingvalvecasing, a series of motor mechanisms carried by the mast and each having its supply and exhaust connected with said valve-casing, a load-lifting mechanism operable by one of said motors, and means, for swinging the jib and for operating the-trolley, connected individually with the other motors, substantially as set forth.

3. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with a jib carrying a trolley, of a load-lifting mechanism, acrane-swinging mechanism carried by the mast, a trolley-operating mechanism also carried by the mast, a main valve constituting a single source of supply to the motors of said load-lifting mechanism, the crane-swinging mechanism, and the trolleyoperating mechanism and operable to control directly the motor of the load-lifting meehanism,and independently-operable valves between said main valve and the motors for the crane-swinging and trolley-operating mechanisms, substantially as described.

4. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with a jib carrying a trolley, of a main controlling-valve having a distributing-chamber and a single exhaust-passage, a load-lifting mechanism carried by the mast and having a motor which has its supply and exhaust connections controlled by the main valve, a craneswinging mechanism also carried by the mast and including a motor which is connected with the distributing-chamber and exhaust of the main valve, and a trolley-operating.

mechanism also carried by the mast and having a motor likewise connected with the distributing-chamber and the exhaust of the main valve, the crane-swinging motor and the trolley-operating motorbein'g controllable by individ ually-operable valves,substan tially as set forth.

5. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with thejib and the rotatable mast, of a series of motor mechanisms carried by the mast and comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, a common distributing valve-casing connected with the several motor mechanisms and also carried by the mast, individual controlling means for each motor, and a single motive-fluid inductionpipe operatively connected with the said valve-casing, the pipe and the valve-casing being capable of relative rotation to accommodate themselves to the turning movement of the mast, substantially as set forth.

6. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the rotatable mast, of a series of motor mechanisms mounted on and carried by the mast and comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, a fluidsupply for all of said mechanisms, including a single distributing-casing having a single exhaust-passage,a controlling-valve arranged within the distributing-casing, a single motive-fluid induction-pipe communicating with said casing, and an automatic relief-valve also arranged in the same casing with said controlling-valve and interposed between the induction-pipe and the single exhaust-passage, substantially as set forth.

7. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the rotatable mast, of a series of motor mechanisms carried by the rotatable mast, and comprising means for respectively swinging the crane upon its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, a common fluid-supply for all of said mechanisms, including a single distributing-casing, an individual controlling-valve for each motor mechanism, and an automatic relief-valve common to all of the controlling-valves of the system and arranged within the said distributingeasing, substantially as set forth.

8. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the jib and the rotatable mast, of a series of motor mechanisms carried by the rotatable mast and comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, a common fluid-supply for all of said mechanisms, in-

cluding a single distributing-casing, an individual controlling-valve for each motor mechanism, and an automatic relief common to all of the controlling-valves, substantially as set forth.

9. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the rotatable mast, of a series of motor mechanisms carried by the mast and comprising means for respectively lifting the load, swinging the crane on its vertical axis, and operating the trolley, a single distributing valve-casing, a valve mounted in said casing for controlling the load-lifting mechanism, a relief-valve also arranged in said casing between the induction and eduction ports, and separate valved connections between said distributing valve-casing and the motor mechanism respectively for swinging the crane and operating the trolley, substantially as set forth.

10. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the horizontal stationary base, of an axially-rotatable crane-mast surmounting the base, a single upright crane-swinging motor mounted on and carried by the mast above the horizontal plane of the base, said craneswinging motor having tackle con neetions respectively with the mast and with said stationary base, substantially as set forth.

11. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the stationary base, of an axially-rotatable mast surmounting the base, a single up right crane-swinging motor carried by the mast at a point above the stationary base, said motor comprising a double-acting cylinder, and a piston having tackle connections at opposite ends respectively with the mast and the stationary base, other mechanisms for respectively lifting the load and operating the trolley, and a common casing for distributing the motive-agent supply to the controlling valve-casings of all of the motors, substantially as set forth.

12. In a motive-fluid crane, the combination with the stationary base, and an axially-rota table crane-mast surmounting the base, of a single upright crane-swinging motor mounted and supported directly on the mast at a point above the stationary base, the said motor comprising a cylinder, a piston having its red extending through both ends of the cylin der, and tackle mechanism operatively connected with both ends of the piston-rod and having cables fastened respectively to the mast and to the stationary base, and means for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motive fluid to and from the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

13. Inamotive-fiuidcrane,thecombination with a stationary base, and a rotatable mast mounted thereon, of a single crane-swinging motor mounted on and supported by the rota table mast, and separate cables respectively connected with opposite ends of the motor piston-rod, and also connected with the base.

14. In a motive-fluid crane,the combination with the stationary base, and an axially-rota table mast arranged thereover, of a pair of spaced idler-sheaves bearing a fixed relation to each other and oifset from one side of the mast at the lower end thereof, said sheaves being arranged in close relation to each other and having the lower portions of their peripheries overhanging the periphery of the base and located in close proximal relation thereto, and a single crane-swinging motor supported directly upon and carried by the rotatable mast and having a pair of separate haulage-cables connected with the opposite ends of the motor piston-rod passing over the separate idler-sheaves, secured fast at their terminals to the stationary base, and extending respectively in opposite directions around the periphery of the latter, substantially as set forth.

15. Inamotive-fluid crane,thecombination with the stationary base, and an axially-rotatable mast arranged thereover, of a pair of adjacent, reversely-inclined idler -sheaves on the rotatable mast bearing a fixed relation to each other and offset from one side of the mast at the lower end thereof, said sheaves being held in proximal relation to and having the lower portions of their peripheries overhanging and adapted to traverse the periphery of the said stationary base, and a single crane-swinging motor also carried bythe mast and having a .pair of separate haulage-cables connected with opposite ends of the pistonrod thereof and respectively passing around the separate idler-sheaves, and extending in opposite directions about the stationary base and attached directly to the latter, substantially as set forth.

16. Inamotive-fiuid crane,the'combination of a stationary horizontal base having a peripheralgroove, an axially-rotatable mast extending upward from the ;center of the base, a pair of adjacent reversely-inclined idlersheaves carried by the rotatable mast and bearing a fixed relation to each other and offset from one side of the mast, at thelower end of the latter, said pair of sheaves being in proximal relation to and having the lower portions of their peripheries overhanging the grooved periphery of the stationary base, and a single crane-swinging motor carried by the mast above the pair of sheaves, and including separate and independent haulage-cables connected with opposite ends of the motor piston-rod, said separate cables being respectively attached to the mast and to thestationary base, and also respectively passing around the idler-sheaves, so as to extend in opposite directions about the base, substan tially as set forth.

17. Inamotive-fluidcrane,thecombination with the mast, the jib, and the trolley on the jib, of a plurality of motor mechanisms carried by the rotatable mast comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley, the trolley-operating motor mechanism, having a double-acting piston,tackle connections between opposite ends of the pistonrod and the trolley, a motive-fluid-distributing device com mon to the several mechanisms, a four-way valve, and connections between said four-way valve and the motor-cylinder of the trolley-operating motor mechanism, substantially as set forth.

18. In a motive-fluid crane,the combination with the mast and jib, and a trolley on the jib, of a main controlling-valve having a distributing-chamber and a single'exhaust, an induction-pipe operatively related to said main oontrolling-valve,an eduction-pipe leading through the mast from the main controlling-valve, a load-lifting mechanism carried IIO by the mast and having its motor connected with said valve, a crane-swinging motor carried by the mast and a trolley-controlling motor carried by the mast, and independent controlling-valves communicating with the distributing-chamber and exhaust of the main controlling-valve, and said valves also having operative connections with the crane-swinging motor and the trolley-controlling motor, respectively, substantially as set forth.

' 19. Inamotive-fluid c'rane,the combination with a rotatable mast, a jib carried thereby and a trolley movable on the jib, of a series of motors mounted on and carried by the mast, said motors comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load, and operating the trolley,

means for supplying motive power to all of the motors, and individual controlling means for each motor.

20. In a motive-fluid crane,the combination with the mast, and the jib having a trolley, three motors mounted on and carried by the mast, said motors each including essentially a rigidly-mounted cylinder, a piston, a valve and cable connections, one of the motors serving to swing the crane on its Vertical axis, another acting to lift the load, and the third for operating the trolley, means for distributing a motive agent to the cylinders of each of the motors, and individual controlling means for each motor.

21. In a motive-fluid crane,the combination with a mast,and a j 11) and trolley carried thereby, of a series of motors comprising cylinders and pistons disposed vertically alongside the mastand supported thereon, said motors comprising means for respectively swinging the crane on its vertical axis, lifting the load,

and operating the trolley, and means for distributin g a motive agent to each of the motorcylindcrs, and controlling means for each motor.

22. Inamotive-fluidcrane,thecombination with a rotatable mast, a jib carried thereby, and a trolley arranged to traverse the jib, of a double-acting motor comprising a cylinder mounted on the mast, a piston-rod, separate cables connected with opposite ends of the piston-rod and each having one end connected to a fixed part of the crane, and its opposite end connected with the trolley, and other motors also mounted on the mast, respectively for turning the mast and lifting the load.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixed signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR C. WILEY.

\Vitnesses:

J. 0, PETER, A. T. MoNTAeUE. 

